Life on Coyote Hill....

KAL clue # 2 and a similarity

2012-01-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

clue # 2

from the

knitpurlhunter KAL

had us adding a cable

after doing several rows

i could see the pattern emerge

and it reminded of this picture

of chicken fence

i had taken after a snowstorm

i love the name michelle chose for the mitten

"winter buzz"

clue # 3 and the final clue

will come on thursday

i can hardly wait!

~*~

new year....new project

2012-01-09T13:03:00.000-08:00

Michelle

knit purl hunter

is doing a fun knit a long

for mittens

called

"winter buzz"

this is my first KAL

and i'm so excited

i'm not even behind

yet!

here's a pic of my progress so far

doesn't look much like a mitten does it!

it's the cuff and not even all of the cuff

i need to knit a few more rows

and then i'll be ready for the next hint

yeah!

it's not too late to join~

follow the link to michelle's page

for the details

and

happy

new

year!

~*~

things are going to the dogs around here...

2011-12-29T12:58:00.000-08:00

making dog treats for

jesse & lucy

has been on my list

for several days

today.....

they ran out

and they get a little fussy

when their treat jar is empty

this is a super easy recipe with only a few ingredients

and the cost is much less than the junk they

sell in the store

here goes...

1 tablespoon of baking powder

1 cup of peanut butter

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup dried milk prepared

(1/3 cup dried milk to one cup water)

throw everything in your electric mixer

and mix until a dough forms

flour a board and roll the dough

to about 1/4"

the recipe says to cut them out with cookie cutters

jesse & lucy do not care what shape they are

as long as they get a treat

i roll the dough into a rectangle and cut the

dough into about 3/4" squares

(this recipe yields about 4 cups)

bake in a 350 degree oven

for 20 minutes or until

lightly browned and hard

store in your favorite treat jar

and make your furry friends happy

lucy & jesse

guess who is the boss?

~*~

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2011-12-22T16:28:00.000-08:00

wishing you & yours

a very merry christmas

love,

doug & kate

~*~

bring on the cold weather!!!!

2011-11-30T05:38:00.001-08:00

they are done!

and just in time for the cold weather & snow

that has landed in ohio

my son picked the pattern

the colors of

scarlet & gray are for his alma mater

Ohio State

go buckeyes!!!!!!

the cork screw mitten pattern can be purchased

from

knit purl hunter

it was a fun pattern!

~*~

Happy Thanksgiving~

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

gobble, gobble, gobble

wishing you and yours a very happy thanksgiving

~*~

an autumn walk in the woods~

2011-10-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

on what was probably one of our last nice days

the pixie paid us a visit

since the temperatures were on the warm side

we decided to take a walk in our woods

and look for the colors of autumn

The leaves fall,

the wind blows,

and the farm country slowly changes

from the summer cottons

into its winter wools.

~*~

a perfect day ~

2011-10-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

i love a cold, rainy, windy day

(if i don't have to be out & about)

it's the perfect excuse to

throw a log on the fire...

check

pick a project out of the knitting basket ...

check

light a candle...

check

curl up in the chair with a little dog & enjoy the blustery day

check

what do you like to do on blustery days?

~*~

my daughter said these were yummy::

2011-10-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

kale chips????

really?

i had never heard of kale chips

sheesh...

i don't think i had heard of kale at all until i had zuppa toscana soup at olive garden

which i loved and googled & found the recipe

gotta love google

zuppa toscana

the recipe calls for 1 cup of cream

i believe my heart would stop if i consumed that much cream

so i just use a few tablespoons

anyhoo....kale chips

this is a pile of kale

i washed it in cold water with a drop of dish soap

i wash just about all my fruits & veggies in a drop of dawn

because well, you know.....60 minutes had a show about the ports

where ALL your veggies in come in that make it to the grocery and how the men that worked there pee'd

on the produce because they don't have time to go to the bathroom

said bathrooms also didn't provide a place to wash your hands

...ewwwwwwwww

i thought you should know this....

then give it a good chop and a ride in the salad spinner

toss it with some olive oil & sprinkle with

whatever seasoning you like

i used season salt

garlic salt would be good too!

toss it about and put it on a baking sheet with some parchment

bake @ 350 for about 7-10 minutes

watch it closely as it can turn to burnt kale chips pretty quick

throw in a bowl & much away!

i thought it was better as soon as it came out of the oven

the girls in my knitting group loved it several hours later

enjoy!

~*~

and last but not least...

2011-10-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

the gang

~*~

part three:: the families

2011-10-14T04:35:00.000-07:00

* Shannon * Tori * Abby * Hayden *

* Grayson * Adam * Shelden * Abbey * Adelyn *

* Ashlie * Iris * Douglas

part two:: douglas & ashlie

2011-10-13T02:18:00.000-07:00

family picture day is always fun

this day was no exception

here are a few more pictures from that day

meet the barkers

(these are the young barkers..*lol*...doug & i are the old barkers)

ashlie & douglas

~*~

fall family fun...part one:: abbey & adam

2011-10-10T17:18:00.000-07:00

it's been a few years since we gathered for family photo's

it was a beautiful fall day (albeit chilly)

and everyone was here

all 15 of us!

everyone carried in a breakfast dish

( you know anything that involves our family, involves food)

we snapped several pictures

then indulged in donuts, mulled cider, blueberry coffee cake, breakfast casserole, & oh so yummy calzones

~*~

we'll begin with the deppens

abbey & adam

~*~

On the needles...

2011-10-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

~corkscrew mittens~

such a fun pattern!

this pattern is from michelle hunter of the blog "knit purl hunter"

if you haven't been to her blog, check it out

knit purl hunter

she has wonderful detailed video's

fun patterns

these are knit with cascade 220

on magic loop

from one skein of each color

you will get two pairs of mittens in opposite colors

i picked up the pattern & yarn from one of my favorite yarn shops

knitting temptations

you can find the pattern from michelle's blog

or on

ravelry

happy knitting!

~*~

finally.....a finished knitting project!

2011-09-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

my oh my

but this project has been a long time coming!

not that it was a difficult project or pattern

but....

(here come the excuses)

we had a horribly hot summer

and i just was not in the mood to knit

however

with that being said

i finally got these off the needles

the details can be found at these links

my ravelry page

&

my finished projects

~*~

the farm what?

2011-09-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

we aren't farmers

but for one day

we were wanna be farmers

we put on our boots

and headed to the farm science review

"where farmers go to dream"

it's a small city of all things farming

this kid loved it!
we spent the entire day
looking at all things farming

tractors

planters

plows

and lots of other equipment
that i have no idea what it's used for

and golf carts.......so many golf carts
i didn't realize farmers were so big on golf carts

we didn't know until we were leaving
that you can rent golf carts
to tour this farming city

we certainly got our exercise for the day
but next year
we'll be one of the golf cart farmer wanna be's

~*~

all things family, fall & fun~

2011-09-19T06:22:00.000-07:00

i love when a plan comes together

and everyone has a great time

and that's just what happened this past sunday

we agreed to meet at youngs dairy in yellow springs

to attend the wool gathering

well....i wanted to go to the wool gathering,

everyone else wanted to have lunch, eat ice cream and see the animals

what's not to love about this guy

a little picking & playing

and of course, lunch!

where our family is gathered, food is ALWAYS involved

gigi, ashlie, iris & douglas

abbey, grayson, adelyn, adam & shelden

gigi, doug, and moi

the glass says it all

it was family fun!

the littles were so good

perhaps the biggest drumstick ever

and yes, he ate it all

a ride in the barrels for mama & adelyn

grayson loved the goats

he giggled the entire time!

say cheese!

what day is complete on the farm without driving a tractor

thanks guys for meeting up with us

maybe it should be an annual trip?

~*~

laundry soap...the homemade kind

2011-09-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

i've used this detergent for about 2 years

and i really like it

it's not overloaded by scent

just a fresh, clean smell

and it's safe for our septic

i use vinegar for fabric softener

the grinder belonged to my dad

its perfect for grinding the bars of fels naptha

you can also use a food processor

a hand grater

if you want more scent to your laundry

you can add essential oil

i can't tell you

the amount you would add

i like that my clothes don't have a scent other than

clean

so i've never added scent

i would like to give credit to the website that i got this from

but

i can't find the original source

i make a double batch

store it in this container

with the recipe taped to it

so i don't forget

recipe~

2 cups grated fels naptha (i am told you can also use castile)

1 cup borax

1 cup washing soda (not baking soda)

mix together and add 2 tablespoons per load

you will not get bubbles from this product

enjoy!

~*~

a rant and rave about blogger and my original post.......... cleaning & cookie baking with the pixie~

2011-09-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

blogger.....it's a love hate relationship between me and them

i spent over an hour this morning getting a blog ready to post

only to find that

1. while working on said blog, tried to preview my work

nope....won't let me

honestly...why does blogger have to be so difficult

and inconsistent?????

2. went back to grab another picture,

yep, you guessed it,

won't let me

had to close and re-open

(happens all the time)

3. grabbed my picture

returned to "draft"

and

even though i pressed
"save now"

it did not

it said "draft saved"

but.......

well you know the rest of the story

so........

here we go again

~*~

the pixie was driving her mama a bit crazy

i was doing some cleaning & cookie baking

and i can always use some extra hands

even if they are little ones

so mama dropped her off and took the boys to a fishing derby

we did lots of cleaning

we ran the sweeper

washed a window or two

fed lucy & jesse

made the bed

and then we whipped up the best cookies

they are my new favorite

you can find the recipe at sugarcooking

there was some mixing

a little whisking

and what is cookie baking without a little tasting

and last but not least...pretzel smashing

i believe this was her favorite part

then there was an hour of waiting as the dough had to chill

in that time we

sat on the porch swing

read a few books

waited on grampy to come out of the barn

had a few snacks

(all that baking & cleaning makes a girl hungry ya know)

and watched the hummers at the feeders

the final product

oh my....these are the best combination of

crunchy

chewy

chocolate

peanut butter

salty goodness

give em' a try

~*~

a sunny fall day + 2 little cuties = photo shoot

2011-09-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

the pixie

i'm not sure why i thought she would be excited about

her nana taking a hundred pictures

even with a pocket full of candies i

didn't get much cooperation from her

she looked at her mother and i like well,

like we were a little on the silly side

what with all the

"cheese"

"smile"

"aaaaachooooo"

nonsense

we probably did look silly

but this one...

baby boy grayson

ate it up

he thought his mama & i were hysterical

he always has a giggle & a smile

no candy needed

sit him on a log

stand him on a chair

put him in the grass

he didn't care

he smiled

for

every

picture

baby g

aka

chunky monkey

adelyn the pixie

the idea of taking lots & lots of pictures

of the grandkidlets all began

because i couldn't resist the purchase of clearence sunflowers

from andersons

i went after dog food and came out with flowers

go figure

i've been wanting to do some pics of the grand kidlets

and a bunch of sunflowers seemed reason enough

that and a pretty fall day

seemed to be the only motivation i needed

she likes her boots

and

she wants to wear her boots

but

she walks as though they aren't very comfortable

and they probably aren't

he seemed to love the day nana had in store for him

she tolerated the day nana had in store for her

but

it ended with a kiss

thank you

grayson thomas & adelyn laine

for allowing your nana

to pretend as though she knows what she's doing

for an afternoon

~*~

beans, beans & more beans~

2011-09-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

our garden was a good producer this year

despite the heat

we still have some tomatoes

a few eggplants

peppers

and the brussel sprouts are starting to form

the end of canning, freezing & pickling is upon us

the empty jars once shelved in the garage

have been filled with goodness and moved

to the pantry shelves & the freezer

today....

i am attempting fruit leather!

a day with the sweet pea~

2011-08-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

every week i have the pleasure of spending time

with this wee one... little miss iris

it is one of the highlights of my week

she is one of the new grandkidlets

and by that i mean....

our grandkidlets are kinda divided into

2 groups

the old grandkidlets

the new grandkidlets

the old ones are fun in that they are

potty trained

feed themselves & even feed you sometimes

can help you do any number of things

and

they figure out things like my

electronics

such as

dvd players

computers

phones

well...you get the picture

the new ones are fun in they are not yet sassy

they like to be rocked & read to

they take naps

and

they love you despite

the fact that you have moles

brown spots

wrinkles

there are advantages & disadvantages to both groups

when group one has had enough of your old self

you move to group two

they don't care how old you are!

~*~

wishing you a...

2011-08-26T04:01:00.000-07:00

happy friday

~*~

what can happen during a bathroom break~

2011-08-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

the pixie & i spent the afternoon together

i HAD to go to the bathroom

when i came out

i found this little pixie, with her back to me,

putting something in my purse

when i ask her what she was doing

she replied "chapstick"

(we both share the love of chapstick & lipstick)

when she turned around

it was lipstick, not chapstick

she had ever so precisely put on her little smackers

as i was getting my camera

she was getting my phone

never, ever, ever

a dull moment

when this one is in the house

*LOL*

~*~

Still holding on to the south~

2011-08-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

if you can't be in the south

bring the south to you!

we had a low country boil on saturday

and what fun it was!

we were concerned about everyone having to sit in the sun

(we live in the middle of the woods, but not one tree around our house)

so the hubs and i came up with this idea~

3 twin sheets sewed together, some tent stakes

and a thing magig the hubs rigged up to hold up the center

worked perfectly!

our decorations consisted of ball jars filled with candles,

sand and seashells from our many trips to the coast

some spanish moss hanging here and there

heavy duty kraft paper

served as our tablecloths

rolls of paper towels

for napkins

the hubs started with potatoes, sausage, onions, garlic, lemon

and old bay seasoning

then added corn

and topped it off with shrimp, crayfish, lobster, crab & crablegs

yummmmmmm

what low country boil is complete without crabcakes...*lol*

this was also to celebrate my son's 29th birthday

red velvet cake with cream cheese icing

covered with sand (graham cracker crumbs)

and topped with crabs

thank ya Paula Deen

they were dilish

happy birthday douglas!

we put all the food in a screen tent

to keep the flies at bay

it just doesn't get any better than this!

well, if there were an ocean close by

that would have been a little better

good food, good friends, good family

a few goofy folks

(aka the birthday boy)

auntie abbey holding miss iris decked out in crabwear!

lots of family

these two littles ate stuff they weren't too sure about!

full bellies & smiling faces

such fun!

nothing better than everyone gathered around one table

to share a meal~

even the littles got a taste of the south

(he didn't really eat it)

we are fortunate, the hubs & i, to be blessed with

good friends & good family

~*~

letting go...

2011-08-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

whenever we return from south carolina

i have a hard time letting go...

my mind keeps drifting back

to what once was just a short time ago

i truly believe my soul lives in the south

i yearn for the ocean and all that the south is

i miss the smell of the pluff mud

and the saltiness in the air

i miss the sea oats

and

all the treasures that can be found

on long walks on the shore

i miss the relaxed slow pace

and the kindness of the people

i even miss the heat & humidity

i do not miss the bridges that connect the islands

i will not drive over them

if we lived there

i would be stuck in mt. pleasant or charleston

until the hubs rescued me

off all things south

the bridges are the only thing i do not miss

thank you sullivans for sending

a ohio girl home refreshed

and

ready for the autumn leaves to fly

until next year

~*~

vacation is over.......sigh~

2011-07-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

this summer led us to sullivan's island, south carolina for

12 wonderful days

we made it to the beach every day

we enjoyed

several road trips to charleston

which included walks to the

city market

the battery

waterfront park

rainbow row

and

some really good places

for lunch

sullivans island is also the name of

dorthea benton franks

first book

sullivans is a little island that is divided by stations

we spent many of our days at station 21

we also went to folly beach

which is beautiful as well

folly beach is the title of

dorthea benton franks

newest book

(starting to see a connection here?)

i haven't had the opportunity to read this latest book

(perhaps this would be a good kindle choice)

but we sure enjoyed the beach

we walked and walked along the shore

looking for treasures

we spent a couple of hours walking & exploring

only to come back to this...

we knew the tide was coming in

but we were so mesmerized by

the beauty of all that folly beach is

that ......

we forgot about our little beach front property!

~*~

it's the little things~

2011-06-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

my daughter and i get together often

sometimes for a meal

but mostly

just because

i always look forward to these get togethers

because there will be

much talk about

cooking

flower beds & vegetable gardens

and pinterest.............

always lots of plans to do the things we've seen on pinterest

and eating

we both enjoy cooking

but most of all

we LOVE eating

i usually fix the main dish and a side

and she brings desserts & salads

and always

she brings her dad & i ice....

it may sound like such a little thing and it is

but

it's the thought behind such a simple gesture

she knows her dad & i love the crunchy ice

that her icemaker churns out

she stands at the fridge for what

must seem like forever

filling a ziplock bag

with crunchy ice

to bring her mom & dad

thank you baby girl

for taking time

to do

the

little things

xoxo

~*~

sprouting.....and yes, i blogged again

2011-06-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

the hubs & i love sprouts on salads

we've not tried sprouts on

anything besides salad

i would like to but

our area stores rarely carry sprouts

i've wanted to try sprouting so

we would have them whenever we wanted

so when katy over at

no big dill

had a blog about sprouting

i was thrilled

if you're interested in sprouting

pay her blog a visit

she gives a nice detailed explanation

and has a sweet blog

~*~

pin,pin,pin.....i may never blog again~

2011-06-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

this is a wall of love notes placed by visitors seeing the balcony

of juliet

(they were placed on the wall with gum)

of romeo & juliet that is~

from our europe trip several years ago

while this picture has nothing at all to do with the

title of this post

i thought it interesting

enough said......

i've been introduced to the world of pinning!

be still my heart

i could & have spent hours looking over

very creative recipes, clothes, sayings, crafts, photos.......

i could go on & on & on

but i won't

take a look yourself

the wonderful world of pinning

2011-05-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

thank you to all who have served & those who continue to serve~

a cozy little place~

2011-05-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

children & the hubs

were so kind on mothers day

not only did the hubs

prepare both dishes we were taking to the cookout

but he did the clean up too

he's very sweet that way

the entire family met at garbry's big woods for a cookout

everyone i tell ya!

brother

sister

nieces

nephews

mom

all of my children

grandchildren

it was such a fun day!

while i could go on & on about mothers day

the point of my story is this...

our library recently started loaning out kindles

pretty nice huh!

the residents of our little town

are fortunate to have

a great library

complete with a kind & generous staff

i'm getting off the subject (again)

the direction this story was taking

is...

i borrowed a kindle from the library

and

fell in love i tell ya

i was one lucky mom to be gifted a kindle

for mothers day

sweet!

i decided to make a cover~

a cozy little place to store my kindle

it's padded so i can put it safely in my purse

and it also has a pocket for the charger

headphones, cell phone etc~

voila!

you can purchase the pattern through etsy

birdiful stitches

thanks so much to my family

for making mothers day

so much fun

xoxoxo

~*~

paper dolls & cut outs

2011-05-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

when i was a little girl

around 10 or so

my next door neighbor, denise ( also known as uncie) & i

would play cut outs

cut outs were our version of paper dolls

we would beg the neighborhood ladies

for their sears & roebucks or montgomery ward catalogs

we would cut out our families and then shop for

clothes

houses
furniture

toys

appliances

husbands

& children

we would use bobby pins to hold on their clothes

my mom was the local beautician

so we had acess to bobby pins & scissors

we had the best of everything
clothes

wedding dresses

above ground pools

split ranch houses
all the latest appliances

all our children were cute, clean & well behaved

and our husbands all looked like models

after all, we were a model family
and all of our shopping trips were free
so we could afford the best

we kept our families & their homes in shoe boxes

along with our bobby pins, scissors & some little rocks

the rocks held our homes & families in place on windy days
as we most often had our little worlds spread all over the front porch

uncie & i spent many days with our paper families & their belongings

those were the best of days

now i have this little grandgirlie

when i found these cute magnetic paper dolls

i couldn't resist

they even came in a cute little bag

how cute is that!

she's not quite sure what to do with them yet

but we'll keep playing

and she'll figure it out

hopefully

she'll remember these days

as the best of days

~*~

giddy....absolutely giddy!

2011-05-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

we finalized our vacation plans today!

we're spending 11 days...(odd number of days i know)

on Sullivans Island in South Carolina

the hubs & i have been positively, absolutely giddy all day

we are planning

beach days

trips to Charleston

(we're only 20 minutes away!)

a day trip to Savanah

reserve our table Paula!

while in Charleston,

we hope to do a few walking tours

eat seafood

walk the city market

stand on the battery

admire all the houses of rainbow row

sullivans has some great dining choices

poe's is a great place for lunch

and the beach.....hmmmmmmmmmmm

here we will

read

(Dorthea Benton Frank of course)

nap

rest

apply lots & lots of sunscreen

drink gallons of sweet tea

picnic

collect sea treasures

walk the shore

enjoy each others company

tuck ourselves under a big umbrella

snack

splash ourselves & each other

make plans for the rest of the year

rejuventate our bodies & our souls

promise to stay longer next year

~*~

Just in time for Easter...

2011-04-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

a cute little lamb!

Is an hour long enough?

2011-04-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

when i mentioned to some folks

that i was gifted an hour massage from

my daughter & son in law for

my birthday

the reaction was always the same

an hour? really? isn't that a long time?

for the next hour this is our...

(i say "our" because adam gifted abbey with a massage as well)

(he's sweet like that)

place of relaxation, peace & tranquility.....

we did begin our morning with a soak in the grotto hot tub

which i didn't take pictures of because i never do well with

electronics and water

lets just say, it was relaxing

back inside

we were treated to wonderful lotions

soothing music

relaxing aroma's

and an hour of bliss

what a way to celebrate your birthday!

thanks abbey & adam

~*~

truly blessed~

2011-04-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

welcome

to our little sweetpea

iris grace

she arrived on april 4th at 7:15 pm

weighing 6 pounds 3 ounces

and 19 1/2 inches long

she is the first child for

our son & daughter in law

douglas & ashlie

she is perfect in every way

~*~

ta da! they're done~

2011-03-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

yeah for socks off the needles!

this was a fun pattern

once i picked the correct yarn that is

i knew better than to use a varigated yarn but.......

i had just purchased a really fun yarn and really, really

wanted to use it

the results ummm......

not so good

due to the yarn being varigated

the cross hatch pattern didn't show up at all

i was about 1/3 of the way done with the sock and decided

to frog it

i'm glad i did

choosing a solid yarn really showed off the pattern

and in the end

i was much happier!

you can get all the details on my ravelry page

~yeah~

popcorn anyone?

2011-03-22T09:38:00.000-07:00

jesse & lucy beat a path to the kitchen when

they hear popcorn popping

when the pixie is visiting

they know having popcorn is a sure thing

neither are ever very far from her

as she always has goodies for them

and she's always willing to share

~*~

you do what with your shower cap???

2011-03-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

you can purchase a pack of three shower caps for

about $2 bucks

think out of the box for just a bit and...

voila!

bowl covers

i know, i know, you can buy little packs of them

at any dollar store

but...

they don't last very long

and they are much thinner

these last a very long time

and to wash them you can

throw them into your dishwater

in the washer with a load of towels

just don't forget to take them out before you throw your towels in the dryer

~*~

take time to stop & smell the flowers~

2011-03-17T06:19:00.000-07:00

love at first sight~

2011-03-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

is there anything better than a newborn baby?

~*~

nonpareils or snowcaps?

2011-03-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

~*~

be it snowcaps or nonpareils

this dark chocolate candy

topped with sugar beads

is an all time favorite of the hubs

a little history behind this yummy candy

nonpareils means "without peer"

it is the french term for button candy

they are super easy to make

and it goes without saying

there is no comparison between

the boxed candies

and

homemade

*this recipe is from martha*

you need only 3 ingredients

8 oz of bittersweet chocolate
i use ghirardelli 60% cacao
***

1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening
***

1/4 cup of sugar beads
***

here we go...

break up 8 oz of bittersweet chocolate into a double boiler

add 1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening

melt until smooth

spoon chocolate onto a parchment lined cookie sheet

&

wait 20 minutes

then sprinkle with sugar buttons

allow them to harden on the sheet for about 4 hours

enjoy!

~*~

happy birthday to my bestie!

2011-02-28T18:11:00.000-08:00

today is my besties birthday

she shares this special day with my dad

i call her saint frannie

she loves animals

has always loved animals

ever

since she was a little girl

while the rest of us were playing with dolls....

she spent her time

tending to her buddies

nothing has changed since she was a little girl

she has a huge heart....this bestie of mine

we share the love of lots of things

st. patricks day

guys who build molds & drive bikes

floating on boats & in canoes

flowers & food & friends & family

grandbabies

and cake.....we both love cake

wishing you a happy birthday bestie

from my heart to yours

a cake? well sorta~ and some sayings

2011-02-20T15:08:00.000-08:00

it's a rainy, dreary, cold sunday

and for a change, the hubs & i have no where

to go & nothing particular to do

so~~~~~~~

i decide to bake a cake

not just any cake, a yummy chocolate bundt cake

dripping with chocolate glaze

and

do some knitting on a pair of socks that

i started a few days ago using some beautiful hand dyed yarn

the hubs is watching the race...

"perfect day"

thought the hubs & i

~~~~~~~~

one of my favorite sayings is

"we make plans & God laughs"

this particular saying sooooooooooooooooo describes my entire day

this is said cake

yep, this is it....this is what it looked like after turning it

out of the bundt cake pan on to the cake plate and

picking off the crust...yep, a crust

while this mess of a cake was baking

and i was happily knitting

(which turned into unknitting also know as frogging)

i noticed the lack of a sweet scent of

goodness coming from the oven

so i stopped unknitting

(the sock.....now a puddle of curly yarn)

and went to check the cake

hmmmm, the timer is on

but no heat

really?????

we know at one time there was heat

as the cake was baked a little

(i'm guessing this is when the crust formed)

i turned the heat on and finished baking until the

knife came out clean

*hardeeharharhar*

i remained optomistic til the end

the cake had about a 1/2 " crust

pies have crust...cakes....not so much

i picked the crust off and put the top on the cake plate

i don't know....i think this makes all the difference in the world don't you?

i said to the hubs, "i should take pictures & blog it"

to which he replied

"you should, not every moment is perfect"

and he's right

ugly as it is, it is very tasty

the socks, well the socks have returned to their previous life

a pretty ball of yarn

hmmmmm~

and the preview page doesn't work on blogger..

of course it doesn't

on searching ravelry, knitty, etc looking for a new pattern

i came across this saying and thought it fit my day perfectly!

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,

I will try again tomorrow"

and i will

~*~

my valentines~

2011-02-14T06:25:00.000-08:00

~the hubs~

he liked me so much

he married me on valentines day

31 years ago

shannon, brian, tori, hayden & abby

abbey, adam, adelyn & shelden

douglas & ashlie

adelyn laine

grayson thomas

our love created 3 more valentines

shannon, abbey, douglas

together with their valentines

adam, ashlie & brian

7 more valentines were created

shelden, abby, tori, hayden, adelyn, grayson

&

little miss iris grace who will join us in april

"all because two people fell in love"

~*~

happy valentines day

pretzel goodness~

2011-02-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

i love this little double broiler pan

it was a find at ikea for $5 bucks

it fits onto a couple of my pans

and has a nice round bottom

i use 4-5 white almond bark blocks

for about 1/2 pounds of pretzels

put double broiler over a pan of simmering water

to melt the almond bark

dip half the pretzel into the almond bark

sprinkle with a little topping

i used

chopped peanuts

crushed peppermints

teenytiny sprinkles

then lay on wax paper until almond bark is set

eat & enjoy!

~*~

two heads are better than one~

2011-02-11T07:34:00.000-08:00

another finished project

actually two finished projects

YEAH!!!!

i knitted this hat for the hubs

using fishermans wool

when the grandson saw it

he wanted one as well

it's called the boyfriend hat

it's a simple knit but has interesting decreases on the crown

you can find the pattern here

boyfriend hat

"my goofballs"

living in black & white

2011-02-08T06:22:00.000-08:00

~*~

since early december

we've been living in a black & white world

when i look out the window

i feel like i'm in a ansel adams photo

we've had snow on the ground

nearly everyday since early december

all of this gray & white has made me

feel the need for some color in our world

a touch of spring & summer if you will

wishing you a quick return of color

~*~

gobble,gobble,gobble

2011-02-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

these gobblers have been circling the house all day

i've counted 8 so far

i've been keeping jesse (our border collie) in the house

as she thinks it's her job to keep them off her property

she's hasn't gotten a hold of one.........yet

i think she might get a wound or two if she were to get too close

she seems content to run them to the edge of the woods

come back to the porch and keep a watchful eye

~*~

our newest joy~

2011-02-05T15:36:00.000-08:00

~* grayson *~

i know, i know

adorable

snuggly

precious

loved

amazing

sweetness

i could go on & on

~*~

his mama reports

he is a very good baby

(and i agree!)

the beautiful blue blankie

he is nestled in

was made especially for him

by his grandma angie

~*~

with sticks & string~

2011-02-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

this has been such a fun knit!

it is called Nutkin

i have one sock done and i'm almost to the toe

on the second sock

the yarn is from Neighborhood Fiber Company

the color is Thomas Circle

and has been wonderful to work with

the color didn't show up well in this picture

it is a blend of dark gray, black & light gray

it's a superwash merino and oh so soft

rather than your typical top ribbing

it has the cutest folded over top

there is also a version of nutkin handwarmer

nutkin handwarmer

both patterns can be found on

ravelry

~*~

darn blogger!

2011-02-01T10:18:00.000-08:00

sometimes.....

using blogger

is enough to make me give up blogging!

the previous post had links

none of which showed up on the post

the links were:

Little House in Paradise

Jewels Favorite Soup Jill Makes

and the winner is.....

2011-02-01T10:01:00.000-08:00

Me!

As you might have seen in my last post

Sherri over at Little House in Paradise

was having a give away

I entered a soup recipe

One of my favorite

Jewels-Favorite-Soup-Jill-Makes

She & Big Bob the Builder had a clever way of choosing the winner (me!)

and the winner is....

YEAH!!!!!

Thanks Sherri!

One of my favorite blogs & a give away~

2011-01-25T08:01:00.000-08:00

Sherri, author of two of my favorite blogs

Little House in Paradise

&

The Kitchen Calls

is having a book give away

all you are required to do is submit

your favorite soup recipe

it doesn't get much easier than that

AND

the bonus to this give away ...

tried & true favorite soup recipes

are yours for trying

~*~

he's here!

2011-01-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

Grayson Thomas Deppen

arrived this morning around 7:00 am

weighing 1/10 of an ounce less than 8 pounds

length I am uncertain of

~*~

from the time Abbey & Adam

arrived at the hospital,

7 minutes passed before he was born

talk about cutting it close!

mother, father & baby boy

are doing fine

he is adorable!

he has black hair

a perfect little round head

and the cutest little chin ever!

he has already enjoyed nursing

let them know he did not like his diaper changed

he's perfect in every way

~*~

happy birthday my friends!

2011-01-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

*~wishing you both a very happy birthday~*

my granny's biscuits~

2011-01-16T14:17:00.000-08:00

my granny made the best biscuits ever!

there were so many ways i enjoyed their goodness...

hot from the oven with

sorghum

(similiar to molasses but not nearly as good)

with homemade apple butter

(the store bought stuff isn't real apple butter)

blackberry jelly

(the kind with seeds)

and of course

smothered with her gravy

a few days ago, babs called meto report she had tried a new biscuit recipe

she brought several biscuits

over the next day

the first bite took me back to a very happy place

it was the first time since my gran passed that

i have tasted biscuits with the

the same flavor & texture of her's

what a sweet treat!

p.s. babs, if you're reading this.....i'm almost out of biscuits!

~*~

happy birthday hayden~

2011-01-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

wishing you a very happy birthday

~*~

snowy day brisket~

2011-01-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

i find few things as comforting

as coming home after

being out in the snow & cold

(or any weather for that matter)

as a meal that's been cooking

all day in the crock pot

when i walk in the door

the smell makes contact with my nose

and there is an instant calm

as i know

dinner is done

this recipe for corned beef brisket

is super simple

~*~

pre-packaged brisket

potatoes

carrots

1 can of beer

1 can of water

clean & chop 6 carrots into thirds

peel & quarter 6 potatoes

*here's the part the hubs likes*

he did give me a rather odd look

when i ask him if he could get me a can of beer

*at 8:00 am*

add one can of any kind of beer

and 1 beer can of water

a little seasoning packet that comes with the brisket

(i have no idea what is in the little packet, seeds, spices & stuff)

set your crockpot to low

let it work it's magic for 8-10 hours

thanks to Norma for sharing this recipe with

my mom & i

we love it and think of you everytime we make it

she remembered when~

2011-01-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

remember back when the hubs gifted me with

this adorable piece

from

lisa leonard

just in case you forgot
you can click on the link below

http://coyotehillkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-here-its-here.html

well, babs... aka abbey
also known as shelden's mom, addy's mom, douglas & shannons sister
doug & kate's daughter

remembered me saying
i would love to have the freshwater pearl earrings
from lisa leonard

*s*u*r*p*r*i*s*e*

she surprised me with these on christmas eve

she's such a thoughtful child

thanks babs!

i love them & wear them every chance i get

~*~

so long sad toaster

2011-01-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

this is my "car wreck" of a toaster

it's a sad little appliance

it has stuff burned on it,
i've dropped it twice and one side is falling off
the crumb tray is bent & won't stay closed
so everytime i pick it up
crumbs fall out the bottom onto the counter
&
the floor
but the darn thing just keeps on toasting!
i dislike throwing anything away that works
so i keep using it and then hide it away in
the cabinet

this year for Christmas
my son & daughter in law
gifted me with this shiny new toaster

i love whole grain toast with a smear of peanut butter,
honey,
(this honey is exceptional, picked up on our trip to Savannah from the Savannah Bee Company)
and a sprinkling of sunflower seeds
pair that with a cup of constant comment tea with honey
&
it's one of my favorite snacks

~*~

looking back~

2011-01-01T07:48:00.000-08:00

~*wishing everyone a happy new year*~

my intent was to post pictures from the

past year

blogger had other intentions

for some reason

the past week

i have not been able to post any pictures

the week before

everytime i opened my blog

i could hear fireworks...*L*

(thanks to the hubs, that mystery was solved)

sooooooo.....no pictures (stupid blogger)

but

well wishes for 2011

if you made resolutions

goodluck with those

~*~

what the heck?

2010-12-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

After the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, I thought I would check blog land. Yes, I have a million other things I could be and should be doing, but.......I open my blog and I hear firework sounds in the background! Nothing else is open on my computer, no itunes, no pandora, nope, nada, nil, nothing...just fireworks??????

a picture is worth a thousand words~

2010-12-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

some kids like him....

some kids don't...

this little pixie clearly was having nothing to do

with Jolly ole' St. Nick

Merry Christmas

~*~

surprise!

2010-12-08T15:30:00.000-08:00

it was a day of celebration

a surprise of the best kind

a group of women that have been

a part of each others lives

from a few years to fifty two years

and

we all came together

to celebrate my daughters

30th birthday

we shared a lunch of

chicken salad

egg salad

veggie & dip

cheese & crackers

fresh fruit with creme fraiche

yummy homemade cookies

of course

a sparkly pink cake

we dined on antique pink dishes

linen tableclothes & napkins

(which my son ironed for me!)

with a touch of silver & crystal

we sipped tea from pretty teacups

& enjoyed ice tea from crystal goblets

~the birthday girl~

~the birthday gang~

a very special thank you to the girls

for making the day so special

~*~

good night~

2010-11-21T17:31:00.000-08:00

Happy 13th Birthday Miss Tori~

2010-11-15T07:48:00.000-08:00

ahhhh, 13

there is something magical about being

*~13~*

it's one of those birthdays that you look forward to

a rite of passage

one of many milestones

the beginning of fun teenage years to come

~*~

wishing you a magical fun filled day

Happy Birthday Adam!

2010-11-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

wishing you a very

happy birthday adam!

deppen family picture 09

just a few of my favorites~

2010-11-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

our day began, not with traditional pictures

but a ultrasound dvd and ultrasound pictures of our grandaughter

who is due to arrive in april

it was a 3D ultrasound

and the view was amazing!

we watched her rub her little eyes

suck her tiny little thumb

move about & flip & flop

so very, very sweet

we can't wait to meet her!

then of course

our thoughts turned to food

we enjoyed veggie soup, homemade bread & salad

then off to the woods to take pictures

we took pictures...lots & lots of pictures

we finished the day with more food

warm molasses cookies

(well of course we did, it's a family thing, it's what we do)

yummmmmmmy

~*~

blue eyes~

2010-10-31T05:56:00.000-07:00

A birthday brunch & some family pics~

2010-10-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

we popped the strata in the oven

and headed to the woods

for some family photos

we took several pictures

then came in for

strata, homemade cinnamon rolls & fried apples

the kids had fun posing

the parents.....not so much

~*~

just a girl & her grampy~

2010-10-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

happy day after your birthday Shannon!

2010-10-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

*the oldest*

the child i have known the longest

the child i was to practice my first mothering skills upon

the first person to call me mom

the first to lose teeth

the first child i had to leave at kindergarten

the first one to play an instrument

(and played it very well i might add)

the first one to drive a car

(shouldn't those permit packs come with a perscription for valium and a bottle of wine for the parents?

the first to...

go on a date

go out with girlfriends

go to the movies

&

the mall

the first to get grounded

the first to have big hair & jeans with holes (on purpose!)

the first to proudly do the highschool graduation walk

the first

to get a job

go to college

get married

the first child to leave home

while there have been many other "first" with this, the oldest child

these are the first that stand out the most on this day

~*~

happy 34th birthday shannon

cookie tuesday & barbara is back~

2010-10-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

mexican hot chocolate cookies

from

martha's cookie jar

featured in

everyday food

if you haven't tried this recipe

i highly recommend it

it's a good cocoa cookie

rolled in a mixture

cinnamon

sugar

and chili powder, yes, chili powder!

i almost omitted the chili powder as

it was optional

i'm glad i didn't

if you would like the recipe

you can find it here

mexican hot chocolate cookies

we enjoyed these cookies

with a few pots of tea

at our tuesday knitting group

we're happy to welcome back

barbara

she summers in canada then

joins us in the fall & winter

we enjoy hearing

all about her adventures

and

to see what is in her knitting basket

~*~

a date in the woods~

2010-10-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

the hubs & i have been

busy

so....

we decided to slow things down a bit

we have a little spot in our woods

where on occasion

we go to hide

we hide from

the

dogs

our cellphones

chopping wood

paying bills

computers

laundry

cooking & cleaning

etc,etc,etc

we enjoyed a meal made on the fire pit

bbq ribs

fingerling potatoes

brussel sprouts

(wondering if brussel has one L or two)

a bottle of rodeo red

it was

yummy

peaceful

quiet

dark

relaxing

and

just what we needed after a busy week

~*~

Peek a boo~

2010-10-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

the little pixie came for play time a few days ago

she loves this little barn with all it's animals

she especially loves when I catapult the farmer off his

bed and into the barnyard

makes her giggle everytime

*giggles*

one of the many joys

of being a

"nana"

~*~

great recipes & a giveaway ~

2010-10-12T05:32:00.000-07:00

sherri over at little house in paradise

is having a giveaway

for

barefoot contessa's

newest cookbook

"how easy is that"

stop by her blog & enjoy

the recipes her readers have submitted

get the details

on how to

be part of the fun

~*~

Thanks a bunch!

2010-10-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

Cathy over at Knitting with Beer

gave my little blog this sweet award

~*my first award*~

thanks Cathy!

I'm to pay it forward to other bloggers

this is a list of a few blogs i enjoy

~*~

my every day graces

a life sustained

elsewhere living

little house in paradise

the blankie chronicles

a friend to knit with

crazy aunt purl

ecomilf

eckenrode family sewing

twodogsandaquilt

snickerdoodles & scarecrows~

2010-10-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

every tuesday i go to a knitting group

at our local library

cookie baking is part of my tuesday ritual

as knitting and cookie eating go hand in hand

more often than not

we eat as much as we knit

this week the cookie of choice

is snickerdoodles

this particular recipe is from my

daughter in law

ashlie

she has a sweet little blog and

i'm sure she would love a visit from you

the barkers

~*~

welcome october~

2010-10-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

this picture is from earlier this year, unlike today

which is

gray

rainy

blustery

put on a pot of soup

light a candle

watch movies

& knit

sort of day

happy cozy sunday

~*~

2010-10-02T17:19:00.000-07:00

Yeah!!!! I won!!!!

2010-09-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

sherri over at

little house in paradise

was having a give away a few weeks ago

and

I WON!!!!

the cover alone made me drool

and

the pages inside did not disappoint

i've already chosen a few projects

and

plan to share the book

with our library knitting group

a very special

"thank you"

sherri

for her thoughtfulness

~*~